(9) Human Performance Flashcards
study of performance and limitations of body in a flight environment
Aviation Physiology
can adapt up to 12000 ft
human physiology
main senses of the body
visual, vestibular, kinesthetics
colored portion of the eye
iris
adjustable opening of the eye
pupil
light receptors
rods and cones
sends all information gathered to the brain
optic nerve
photosensitive layer composed of rods and cones
retina
small, notched area behind the lens
fovea
rods and cones - location
rods - outside fovea
cones - center of retina
rods and cones - color perception
rods - black and white
cones - red, blue, green
rods and cones - period of activity
rods - nighttime / dark
cones - daylight
allows rods to detect images at night
rhodopsin / visual purple
enhances dark adaptation
red cockpit lighting
enhances night reading
dim white
caused by staring at a single point against the dark for too long
autokinesis
eyes see things larger than normal
night myopia
occur when natural horizon is obscured
false horizon
caused by runway width, sloping runway, terrain
runway illusion
A/C is higher than usual
runway narrower than usual
A/C is lower than usual
runway is bigger than usual
A/C is higher than actual
upsloping runway
A/C is lower than actual
downsloping runway
motion and gravity detecting sense organ
inner ear
sense changes in angular acceleration; situated in 3 perpendicular planes
semi-circular canals
gelatinous structure in the ampulla of canal
cupolla
sensation of position, movement, tension perceived
kinesthesia
reduced oxygen; lack of oxygen to the brain can cause reduction in mental function
hypoxia
symptoms of hypoxia
cyanosis
headache
impaired judgement
decreased response to stimuli
euphoria
visual impairment
light headed
tingling feeling in the fingers
dizziness
numbness
insufficient oxygen; occurs during rapid decompression at high altitudes, slow decompression at low altitudes
hypoxic hypoxia
when blood does not take up and transport sufficient oxygen
hypemic hypoxia
when oxygen-rich blood in the lungs does not move
stagnant hypoxia
inability of cells to effectively use oxygen
histotoxic hypoxia
prevention of hypoxia
Carry oxygen in aircraft
Use oxygen when flying above ceiling altitude
Do not fly above ceiling altitude
Use oxygen for night flights above 5000ft
Breathe normally the oxygen
max. time you have to make rational, life-saving decision
time of useful consciousness
occurs when too much CO2 has been eliminated from the body; occurs during emotional stress
hyperventilation
symptoms of hyperventilation
visual impairment
light headedness
unconscious
tingling sensation
hot and cold sensation
muscle spasm
corrective action for hyperventilation
breath normally
slower breathing rate
breath into a paper bag
talk aloud
caused when the brain receives conflicting messages
motion sickness
symptoms of motion sickness
dizziness
nausea
sweating
paleness
general discomfort
corrective action for motion sickness
avoid warm, turbulent air
use ear plugs
open cool air vents
inability to equalize pressure between the middle ear/sinuses and the outside environment
middle ear discomfort / pain
causes of middle ear discomfort or pain
upper respiratory infection
nasal allergy
enough congestion to block the Eustacian tube
corrective action for middle ear discomfort or pain
yawning, swallowing, tensing throat muscle
closing moth, covering nose, blowing through nostrils (valsalva maneuver)
lack of orientation regarding our position, orientation, and movement
spatial disorientation
organs in the inner ear that sense the way we are balanced
vestibular system
nerves in skin, muscles, joints that sense position based on gravity
somatosensory system
eyes which sense position based on sight
visual system
feeling that the you/world is spinning
vertigo
caused by light flickering 4-20 flashes per minute; occurs when you are looking at slow moving propeller
flicker vertigo
when a person takes in carbon monoxide
carbon monoxide poisoning
odorless, colorless, tasteless gas contained in exhaust fumes
carbon monoxide
cause of carbon monoxide poisoning:
use of heated air that passed through exhaust fumes
corrective action for carbon monoxide poisoning
turn off heated air
open all window
discontinue flight
group of effects produced by exposure to altitudes not due to expansion of trapped and enclosed gases
decompression sickness
corrective action for DCS
put on oxygen mask immediately
begin descent / land immediately
do not try to work out pain by moving joints
seek medical help
demand placed on the pilot’s mental resources; ratio of amount of resources required by the task to the amount of available resources.
workload
physiological state of reduced mental/physical capability;
fatigue
associated with pilot errors; degradation of attention and concentration
fatigue
short lived; tiredness after a period of strenuous effort
acute fatigue
has psychological roots; weakness, tiredness, palpitations, irritability
chronic fatigue
timing disruption; disruption to perceptual field
skill fatigue
body’s response to physical and psychological demands
stress
elements that cause you to experience stress
stressors
condition associated with the environment such as temperature, humidity extremes
physical stress
your physical condition such as fatigue, lack of physical fitness
physiological stress
social / emotional factors
psychological stress
physiological changes in your body as a result of rapid increase in speed
acceleration stress
types of acceleration stress:
positive, negative, and transverse acceleration
acceleration in direction along your long axis (head to foot); feeling of being pulled downwards
positive acceleration
acceleration from your foot to head; feeling of being pulled upwards
negative acceleration
acceleration sideways of long axis of the body; feeling of being swiped to the side
transverse acceleration
a certain amount of stress is good because it keeps the body alert
stress management
critical loss of water from the body
dehydration
causes of dehydration
hot flight deck, wind, humidity, etc
symptoms of dehydration
headache, fatigue, cramps, sleepiness
inability of the body to control its temperature
heatstroke
prevention of heatstroke
- carrying container to measure intake
- reduced intake of caffein and alcohol
- use of sports drink
does not require digestion and produces depressing effect on the nervous system
alcohol
amount of alcohol in your blood stream
intoxication
the rate at which alcohol is consumed depends on:
- percentage of alcohol in the drink
- rate at which alcohol has been consumed
- amount of food and drinks consumed
- length of time you have been drinking
inability of the pilot to carry out normal duties
incapacitation
incapacitation may occur as a result of:
death, hypoxia, smoke, heat stroke, food poisoning
ability of the pilot to process type and amount of information within the required time frame; affected by health, age, stress, diff. environment
information processing
process that aviators perform to handle troublesome situations; performed at every stage of flight
Pilot Decision Making (PDM)
detrimental to decision making tasks
fatigue
when decision making is applied to flight operation
Aeronautical Decision Making
Factors of ADM
PIC Responsibility
Communication
Resource Use
Workload Management
Situational Awareness
PIC is the ultimate decision maker; Most important PIC responsibility is to know your limits
PIC responsibility
Steps for good decision making
Identify personal attitudes
Learning behavior modification techniques
Learning to recognize and cope with stress
Developing risk assessment skills
Use of resources
Evaluating effectiveness of ADM skills
5 hazardous attitudes
Anti-authority
Impulsivity
Invulnerability
Macho Attitude
Resignation
Dont tell me what to do;
Attitude of people who do not like to be told what to do
Anti-authority
Antidote of anti-authority
Follow rules, they are usually right
Do it quickly;
Attitude of people who frequently need to do something
Impulsivity
Antidote of impulsivity
Not so fast, think first.
It wont happen to me;
Attitude of people who feel/believe that they wont be personally involved
Invulnerability
Antidote of invulnerability
“It could happen to me”
I can do it;
Pilots who are trying to prove that they are better than any one else
Macho (Attitude)
Antidote of Macho (Attitude)
Taking chances is foolish
What’s the use;
People believing that they are not capable of being able to make a great deal of change
Resignation
Antidote of Resignation
“Im not helpless”
Exchange of ideas, information, instruction;
Ideas need to be conveyed in a clear and timely manner
Communication
Resources are sometimes found on unusual places;
It is important to recognize and utilize resources available to you
Resource use
Ensures essential operations are accomplished by planning, prioritizing, and organizing tasks
Workload Management
Accurate perception of operational and environmental factors
Situational Awareness
Due to sophistication and accuracy of current technology, humans have been relying on it excessively
Automation Bias
